08-10-2022 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 10, 2022 stated that Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed in Little Canada, and a large portion of the City's urban forest is currently vulnerable. He reported that one of the requirements of the $73,000 grant that the City of Little Canada received from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is to establish a formal EAB Management Plan. He stated the attached EAB Management Plan has been created to lessen the impact of EAB on the City's ash tree population. He noted the plan outlines how the City of Little Canada will proceed as Emerald Ash Borer infestation becomes more advanced in years to come. Keis asked if there are any grants to help homeowners remove trees. The Parks & Rec/Community Services Director replied that there may be one grant but he has not looked at the details of it. He stated that he directs residents to the Department of Natural Resources website for homeowner resources. He noted that Roseville is starting a new program so he is also going to look into what they are doing. Torkelson asked about the section that states the city will not replace trees in the boulevard. He stated that he is in support of trees in the boulevard as it helps provide shade and can help with traffic calming. He would prefer that there still be the ability for the city to replace boulevard trees, so could the language be slightly amended to leave the door open for it. Torkelson introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOL UTION NO. 2022-8-95 — ADOPT THE EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATION TO SECTION 6 - BOULEVARD TREES: "THE CITY WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO REPLA CE TREES IN BOULEVARD AREAS" The foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Fischer. Roll Call Vote: Keis, Miller, McGraw, Torkelson, Fischer. Ayes (5). Nays (0). Resolution declared adopted. PRELIMINARY BUDGET REVIEW OF 2023 LEVY The City Administrator stated that full budget will be discussed in more detail at the August 24 Workshop, but staff wanted to give the Council a preliminary look at where things are at so far. He explained that this review will primarily focus on General Fund expenditures for personnel services, police services and the fire department budget since those areas have limited ability to change. The Finance Director stated that tax capacity values for 2023 have not been made available by Ramsey County yet, so the current estimate is based on the City of Little Canada 2022 tax capacity. The 2023 preliminary City tax rate as of August 10, 2022 is 27.864 which represents an increase of 9.05% from 2022 tax rate of 25.551. Anew estimated tax rate will be calculated after the tax capacity values are received from Ramsey County. The Finance Director reported that in 2009, the City of Little Canada adopted a financial policy to appropriate only 97.5% of the revenues collected into the General Fund as a safe margin. He noted that the tax collection rate was under 97.5% only in 2009, and it was at 99.22% in 2021. He stated that Council could choose to designate a higher percentage into the General Fund for 2023 since collection rates have been high, and this would lessen the impact on the levy. 3